A tablet is a device that is used to access the internet, as well as an almost never-ending variety of applications (known colloquially as “apps”). Tablets are made by a number of distributors these days, and each different brand offers a fairly similar slew of features. For the sake of easy comparison, however, today we will be examining the specific features of the Apple Ipad.

Readers should note that if they prefer a different brand they can still more or less count on encountering similar features.

Applications:

One of the biggest features of any tablet including the Ipad is the access that they give users to apps.

Apps can be pretty much anything. There are apps for translating languages, taking measurements, accessing your email, and even reading or listening to books.

Access to apps essentially ensures that an iPad or any other tablet is going to have basically unlimited features that the owner of the tablet will be able to enjoy using one.

Internet Access:

Another one of the biggest functions of the tablet is on the go access to the internet. The Ipad offers users access to most of the standard mainstream search engines so you can access your favorite website through whatever engine that you are most comfortable with.

To access the internet with a tablet you are typically going to need to be in a wifi accessible area—which is becoming more common with each passing day.

However, if you find yourself outside of a wifi zone most tablet manufacturers (including Apple) offer versions of their tablets that can connect to cell towers so that you can access the web through a data plan, not unlike those that you can purchase through a smartphone.

While accessing the internet without wifi is going to cost you monthly, this feature is not necessary, and you can opt to forgo the monthly charges by simply sticking to wifi zones.

Camera:

The camera on a tablet used to be something of a token feature but now they are no joke. In fact, people have even filmed festival quality movies using their tablets and smartphones. People don’t generally purchase tablets for the purposes of filmmaking or photography, but the high-quality cameras that come with most options on the market these days (especially the Ipad) is definitely a nice bonus.

Accessories:

While you will have to pay extra for accessories, there are additional products out there that can essentially turn your Ipad into an extremely compact laptop.

With accessories like attachable keyboards, you can use your tablet to take notes and draft documents. It is in part because of functions like this that tablets are now seeing popularity in school and business settings.

All About eReader

For the purposes of today’s comparison, we will be looking specifically at the features of the Kindle PaperWhite. However, once again you can count on most of these features applying to the majority of eReaders as well.

Adjustable Light:

The Kindle PaperWhite now features a built-in light that adjusts to wherever you are to ensure that your screen resolution is set to eliminate glare and give you the perfect settings for reading no matter where you find yourself.

Battery:

You will also find that the battery of the Kindle PaperWhite is made to last for a long time. In fact, even with regular use, you can count on enjoying a charge that lasts for weeks at a time, so you never have to worry about losing juice in the middle of your favorite book.

Books

The main feature of the eReader is access to books, and that is exactly what you get, especially with the Kindle PaperWhite. Owners of this device will be able to enjoy access to thousands of titles, many of which are available for $2.99 or less.

There are even plenty of free books available! If you are a fan of classics, you are in luck, because with the Kindle PaperWhite you will get free access to thousands of titles in the public domain, including greats like Great Expectations, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Candide, and much, much more!

Tiny and Portable, But Useful Features:

Finally, the eReader also benefits from plenty of small features that, while fairly simple, do ultimately serve to enhance your overall reading experience.

For example, you can optimize the display of your eReader to utilize the font of your choosing. You can also get background info on the book, look up words you don’t know instantly, use the search bar to quickly find passages of your choosing, and even receive quick info on how much longer you have until you complete a chapter.

eReader and Tablet Similarities:

On the surface, there are actually plenty of features that both devices share. They both can access the internet, they feature a similar design concept, and you can even access ebooks on either device.

While these devices may sound similar, however, their differences become apparent as you take a side by side look at them.

What are the Differences between Tablet versus eReader?

Similarities are great, but it is the differences between the two devices that are ultimately going to account for your final buying decision. We will now highlight the differences between these two devices in terms of several key features.

Design

While the design concepts themselves are fairly similar the utility of these designs is somewhat different.

The eReader is designed to be small and easy to bring around with you. Their screens are similar in size to an open paperback book.

Ipads and other tablets, however, are trending a little bit larger, as many people now use them the way that you might use a laptop computer.

This distinction is relatively miniscule in some regards, but depending on what you plan to use the device for it can make a difference.

Battery:

The battery on tablets can sometimes leave something to be desired. While many will only hold a charge for a matter of hours or days, the battery of the eReader can last for weeks.

The discrepancy is largely a matter of function. Tablets generally have a lot more going on than eReaders do. The background programs that are running while you use your tablet can lead to the battery draining sooner than you might expect.

Conversely, eReaders are a little bit more basic in terms of the programs that they run, which translates into a longer battery life.

Naturally, this extended battery life lends itself well to readers that don’t want to have to charge up their device every night just to read a book.

Internet Access:

While some eReaders now enjoy full access to the web, traditionally web browsing is pretty much limited to downloading books.

Tablets, on the other hand, are built with on the go internet access in mind. For that reason, people use tablets like the iPad in a more academic, or even professional capacity—using them to draft documents, take notes, send emails, and perform other tasks that used to be reserved for computers.

Screen:

Finally, the screens of the eReader are optimized to be more suitable for indoor or outdoor conditions, and less susceptible to glare than a tablet. This focus is designed to empower readers to take their ebooks with them wherever they go.

The screen of the tablet is actually getting somewhat better at this as well. Newer Ipads, in particular, have introduced an adjustable screen function that allows you to use it indoors or outdoors without manually adjusting the settings.

However, even with that being the case, eReaders still typically outperform tablets when it comes to eliminating screen glare.

Conclusion

So, which of these different types of devices is right for your needs? If you are looking for a really versatile electronic that will be able to give you comprehensive features and web access, and also do a pretty alright job of letting you read ebooks, the tablet might be right for you.

On the other hand, if all you are really looking for is a device to read and store books on, you are definitely going to want an eReader. Their screens and overall design concept are optimized for reading, and you won’t need to worry about paying extra for a bunch of features that you aren’t really interested in.

Of course, at the end of the day, either product is going to be a great buy!

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